MURAT’S INVASION OF SICILY.

431

undertook what was called liis invasion of Sicily . I haveshown how the Anglo-Sicilian expedition from Messina had vomited on the Neapolitan coasts numerous hands ofrobbers, who, desperate in a country hostile though familiarto them, had no hope but in furious plunder, or cuttingtheir way back to embark for Sicily . But these matters Imust wave, and continue, as briefly as possible, the recitalof the principal incidents in the history of Murat.

An army of sixteen thousand men, more French thanNeapolitans, was encamped by Murat at the extreme pointof Calabria, between Reggio and Scilla, on an eminencenamed del Piale. General Grenier was named by Napoleon as commander of the French portion of the army, withsecret orders not to consent to a landing in Sicily , unlessinvited to do so by the old Queen Caroline , or upon theinformation of the English and Sicilians being engaged inhostilities against each other, a circumstance that the legi-timate sister of Maria Antoinette had engaged to bring about.On the hill of Piale the splendid tent of King Joachim roseconspicuous—upon the opposite coast, only distant two milesand a-half, the English had encamped twelve thousandmen,—and on the hills behind, were posted ten thousandSicilian auxiliaries.

From morning to night, from night unto morning, wasthere one continued fight between gunboats, longboats, andvessels of every description; but which combats had noresult of strategy whatever. The French and Neapolitanstook many of the opposing craft by boarding; much bloodwas spilt without advantage to either side. King Joachimand the French General Grenier, were daily engaged indiscussions and disputes as hot as those of the adverse gun-boats. The former urged the practicability of a landing inSicily , the other not daring to expose the secret of hisprivate instructions from the Emperor , founded his dissent